chill

[ chil ]

noun

1. coldness, especially a moderate but uncomfortably penetrating coldness:

   the chill of evening.

2. a sensation of cold, usually with shivering:

   She felt a slight chill from the open window.

3. a feeling of sudden fear, anxiety, or alarm.
4. sudden coldness of the body, as during the cold stage of an ague:

   fevers and chills.

5. a depressing influence or sensation:

   His presence cast a chill over everyone.

6. lack of warmth of feeling; unfriendliness; coolness.
7. Foundry. an inserted object or a surface in a mold capable of absorbing large amounts of heat, used to harden the surface of a casting or to increase its rate of solidification at a specific point.
8. bloom ¹( def 12 ).

adjective

1. moderately cold; tending to cause shivering; chilly:

   a chill wind.

2. shivering with or affected by cold; chilly.
3. depressing or discouraging:

   chill prospects.

4. Slang. cool ( def 14 ).
5. unduly formal; unfriendly; chilly:

   a chill reception.

   Synonyms: stiff, hostile, aloof, cold

verb (used without object)

1. to become cold:

   The earth chills when the sun sets.

2. to be seized with a chill; shiver with cold or fear.
3. Foundry. (of a casting) to become hard on the surface by contact with a chill or chills.
4. Slang. to calm down; relax (often followed by out ).

verb (used with object)

1. to affect with cold; make chilly:

   The rain has chilled me to the bone.

2. to make cool:

   Chill the wine before serving.

3. to depress; discourage; deter:

   The news chilled his hopes.

4. Foundry. to harden the surface of (a casting) by casting it in a mold having a chill or chills.
5. bloom ¹( def 22 ).
6. Slang. to kill; murder.

chill

/ tʃɪl /

noun

1. a moderate coldness
2. a sensation of coldness resulting from a cold or damp environment, or from a sudden emotional reaction
3. a feverish cold
4. a check on enthusiasm or joy
5. a metal plate placed in a sand mould to accelerate cooling and control local grain growth
6. another name for bloom 1

adjective

1. another word for chilly

verb

1. to make or become cold
2. tr to cool or freeze (food, drinks, etc)
3. tr
   1. to depress (enthusiasm, etc)
   2. to discourage
4. tr to cool (a casting or metal object) rapidly in order to prevent the formation of large grains in the metal
5. slang.
   intr to relax; calm oneself

Derived Forms

• ˈchillness, noun
• ˈchilling, adjective
• ˈchillingly, adverb

Other Words From

• chilling·ly adverb
• chillness noun
• over·chill adjective
• over·chill verb
• pre·chill verb (used with object)
• un·chilled adjective
• well-chilled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chill¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English chile, Old English cele, ci(e)le “coolness”; cool, cold; akin to Latin gelāre “to freeze,” gelum “frost, cold,” glaciēs “ice” ( gelato, gelid, glacier )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chill¹

Old English ciele; related to calan to cool , Latin gelidus icy

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a chill pill, Slang. See chill pill ( def 2 ).

Synonym Study

See cold.

Example Sentences

Peaches need "peach chill" — a certain amount of time in temperatures that are under 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

From Salon

“He was actually more chill today,” Brew said.

From Los Angeles Times

That has sent a chill through the scientific community.

From Los Angeles Times

“That kid looks quite chill,” said Barry Jenkins of the picture of his younger self he has saved on his phone.

From Los Angeles Times

On Fridays, it gets rolled and chilled down, applying finishing touches on Saturday, so it’s ready to be roasted by Sunday afternoon.

From Salon

Related Words

• dampen
• depress
• dishearten